By Ziyah News Chief Reporter
Beitbridge-The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has once again disconnected the Municipality of Beitbridge from bulk water supplies, as the Town Council has accumulated what the water authority termed an unsustainable debt.
The cutting off of supplies which has become somewhat a cliché lately, comes against the backdrop of erratic water supplies being experienced by residents of the border town.
Communication from water authority show the Beitbridge town council has been paying a paltry quarter of their monthly bulk water obligations to ZINWA a situation that has seen its debt growing.
“ZINWA bills the Municipality an average of ZWG 550 000 for their monthly bulk raw water requirements and the local authority has been making monthly payments averaging ZWG 140 000 resulting in their outstanding bills accumulating to ZWG 2, 711, 362. 80 million.
“Due to this unsustainable payment pattern by Beitbridge Municipality, ZINWA is no longer in a position to meet the obligations associated with the consistent supply of raw water to Beitbridge, including electricity as well as repairs and maintenance hence the Authority has taken a decision to disconnect water supplies to Beitbridge until such a time the Municipality services its arrears, said Mrs Marjorie Munyonga the ZINWA head of Corporate Communications.
The water authority also said the operating cost it incurs when supplying water to the municipal pushed it to make the decision.
“ZINWA thus incurs electricity as well as operations and maintenance costs to keep supplies to Beitbridge which costs should be covered by payments by the municipality. The raw water from Limpopo River is also supplemented releases from Zhovhe Dam which also have operation, repairs and maintenance costs”
On its part, the Municipality of Beitbridge’s press statement did not refute the ZINWA figures but urged residents to honour their debts to council.
“The Municipality through previous correspondences have continually encouraged residents and stakeholders to honour and pay their debts. It is unfortunate that despite concerted efforts to offer support systems like payments plans and enforcement of water disconnections, the payments have not reached the minimum threshold required to meet the debt” read a statement signed by the Beitbridge Town Clerk, Loud Ramakgapola
The council also is also advising residents that municipality is engaging ZINWA seeking a lasting solution to the problem further urging the use of the available boreholes and use water sparingly